This blog is about life on board our narrowboat Sanity Again, cruising the inland waterways of the UK (mainly in the spring, summer and autumn) and living in a marina in the winter. It's the way I choose to write it; if you don't like it, there are many other boating blogs.

Thursday, 5 May 2016

A night in Willington

Setting off at 7.45 once more, we had a good run to Willington, arriving just three hours later. The route is showing the benefit of CRT's work in cutting back offside growth and dredging shallow spots. Sanity Again maintained 3.5 mph when not creeping past moored boats or sneaking up on blind bends.

We had plenty of choice for mooring when we got here, but it's really filled up now. As we approached the village, we saw several Mercia moorers heading the other way – clearly the better weather is having an effect on cruising plans.

We've got Mirabilis tied in front of us for the night and have been exchanging loads of chat with them all day.

After lunch, we popped into the village to stock up on perishables like grapes and salad stuff that we can't get from the marina shops. Back at the boat, we put the coal box away in the bow locker and cleaned up the well deck, so that SA is now definitely in summer cruising mode.

The cunning plan is to have fish and chips from the new shop here tonight then go into the marina first thing tomorrow. We need diesel and a pump out and to refill the water tank. Elanor is giving us a hand on Saturday to move stuff back into the lodge. If this weather holds, we'll be able to get a lot of outside work done next week, touching in the paintwork here and there and washing and polishing the cabin sides.

This will be the last of the daily blogs until we are cruising again, but as before, I'll blog from time to time with news about us.

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Our eBooks

We've now written four e-books. We have been selling them via Amazon, but we've taken the decision to avoid benefitting from Amazon's tax avoidance strategies. Instead, if you would like a copy of any of these, please email me using the link below, saying which ereader you use. I'll send you a copy in return for a donation to a waterways or cancer charity of your choice.

Building Sanity Again is an account of just that, based on the blog I did whilst it was all going on and with an evaluative chapter added.

A Boater's Commonplace Book is Sheila's compilation of answers to the questions we've been asked during our time as liveaboard boaters such as "Is it cold in the winter?" and "How far have you been?"

Tales from the Towpath is another of Sheila's compilations, this time of all the funny things that have happened to us on the waterways over the last 35 years plus, together with some stories we've only heard about.

Practically Cooking on Board is my cookbook, using ingredients and equipment reasonably readily available to the boater. No sous vide or liquid nitrogen here!

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Cruising plan: Spring and Summer 2017

After a winter in the marina, we plan to set off again at the beginning of April, heading for Stourport, the Severn and then the Droitwich. Then we'll make our way back via Tardebigge, Lapworth and Hatton to arrive at Crick in good time for the Show.

After that, we may well head back north to the Llangollen, aiming to arrive at Poynton in late August for the Owners' Weekend and Open Day.